Fabrication of nano-sized emitting phosphors for photoluminescence films via hydro-thermal synthesis

Nano-sized red and blue emitting phosphors for a photoluminescence film were fabricated via hydrothermal synthesis through the sol-gel process. The nano-sized phosphors had a spherical shape such as the 60-110 nm Y2O2S:Eu3+ phosphor and the 45-90 nm of Y2SiO5:Ce phosphor. Firing at 1000 degrees C for 2 hours resulted in an increase in their size to 90-190 nm for the Y2O2S:Eu3+ phosphor and 70-160 nm for the Y2SiO5:Ce phosphor. Heat treatment of the gel powders of the emitting phosphors above 730 degrees C was recommended because of their crystallization. The maximum excitation and emission intensities of the red and blue phosphors with Y2O2S:Eu3+ and Y2SiO5:Ce were at the wavelengths of 308 nm and 617 nm, and 254 nm and 464 nm, respectively. The photoluminescence of the films increased as increasing the content of the red and blue phosphor powder mixture in the plastic films. The 100 microm-thick PVB film with the nano-sized phosphors showed the maximum photoluminescence of 537 x 1000 counts/sec.